No gag: Eastwood saves a life

Tuesday

Feb 11, 2014 at 12:01 AM

Clear your throat before tackling these random thoughts for a Tuesday:

Bob Highfill

Clear your throat before tackling these random thoughts for a Tuesday:

» Legendary actor Clint Eastwood saved Steve John's life by employing the Heimlich maneuver on the director of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am as he choked on a piece of cheese during a reception last week. John said he had a similar scare seven or eight years ago at a function in Colorado and was saved when someone performed the Heimlich on him. After dislodging the cheese, Eastwood should have looked John square in the eye and asked, "Well, do you feel lucky?"

» The questions should center on whether former Missouri defensive end Michael Sam can play at the NFL level, not his sexual orientation. Given he's the 2013 Southeastern Conference defensive player of the year, one would think the answer would be, "Yes."

» Russian Olga Graf unzipped the front of her speed skating outfit to her waist after she completed the 3,000-meter event, then quickly rezipped when she realized she had nothing on underneath. She finished third but was the chest skater out there.

» NBC personality Bob Costas is going all Peabody and Sherman, wearing rounded hipster glasses after contracting pink eye in Sochi. He said he woke up last week with his "left eye swollen shut and just about as red as the old Soviet flag." Guess that dark yellow tap water really is dangerous.

» Jimmy Walker didn't win a PGA Tour event in his first 187 tries. After winning at Pebble Beach, he's won three of his first eight starts this season.

» Set your inner Stormtrooper free during Star Wars Night at the Thunder game Saturday at Stockton Arena. May the force be with the Thunder, which has dropped six of its last seven.

» Alex Rodriguez dropped his lawsuit against MLB and the players association, so no A-Rod in 2014. That's a good start.

» Not all No. 3 starters are created, or compensated, the same. Masahiro Tanaka signed a seven-year, $155 million deal with the Yankees this offseason. Tanaka recently chartered a Boeing 787 to fly him one-way to New York. The plane was empty but for his five-person travel party and his dog. Cost: $195,000. With that kind of scratch, why not? Just hope he doesn't end up in the same fraternity as Vince Young, Terrell Owens and Antoine Walker - Tappa Outta Casha.

» The U.S. men's hockey team starts play against Slovakia on Thursday. It's been 34 years since the "Miracle on Ice" when the Americans upset the Soviets, then beat Finland for Olympic gold. St. Louis Blues captain David Backes, who plays for Team U.S.A., said the time has come for the U.S. to take the gold: "As great as it was, and as awesome an accomplishment, I think the guys here would like to write our own chapter, and then we can talk about '80 and 2014."

» The Pettys aren't fond of Danica Patrick. Kyle last year said Danica's not a race car driver, then Richard said she could only win "if everybody else stayed home." Sporting, no, but until she proves them wrong ...

Contact sports editor Bob Highfill at (209) 546-8282 or bhighfill@recordnet.com. and on Twitter@bobhighfill.